California Coastal Retreat

Ancient Indian building principles inform a 70-acre family haven on the Central Coast

By Kelly LaPlante, Houzz

For a busy professional couple with equally busy grown children, a place to regroup and reconnect with family is vital — and for this particular family, building with intention was far more important than building quickly. With the help of architect Mary Ann Gabriele Schicketanz, these homeowners followed the strict Indian building principles of Sthapatya Veda to deliberately and meticulously construct a coastal retreat.

Sthapatya is a word from ancient India that means “establishment,” and Veda means “knowledge.” The guiding principles of the practice are based on an understanding of established cosmic order. Each element of the building must face a certain direction, and a particular emphasis is placed on the importance of using green building materials.

The result of this painstaking effort? A home that is appropriate for the art of recentering.

“It took a long time to source the right materials,” Schicketanz says. “We went about the process very slowly in order to have a project that was very well integrated with the site.”

The project was originally built completely off the grid. Today, a connection to the grid exists, but the entire property is primarily serviced by a large solar array, and conservation of natural resources remains very important to the family.

Reclaimed barn siding clads the exterior of the home, creating an almost cabinlike facade and immediately reinforcing that its purpose is to provide repose.

A monastic entry space features a reclaimed French limestone floor and a bleached fir ceiling. A pair of antique benches and the homeowners’ collection of black-and-white photography add visual interest.

A sunny atrium forms the center of the home, and a rectangle, which opens the floor to the ground beneath it, is filled with a fine layer of white sand. Overhead, a large skylight enhances the celestial connection.

Flowers float in a large bowl, carved from a single piece of marble. It sits on the sand as a minimal centerpiece.

A seating area opens to expansive views of the land and sea, and is used primarily during the day when the family can fully appreciate the vantage point.

“At night it doesn’t make sense to sit next to a big window with a view of nothing but darkness,” Schicketanz says. “So we created another seating area that is centered on a fireplace.” The fireplace also serves as a transition between the living and dining areas.

While the house was being designed, the homeowners purchased a large piece of abstract art specifically for the wall in the dining room. “It really defines the space,” Schicketanz says.

The homeowners also owned a small collection of antique light shades, which lighting designer Terry Ohm incorporated into a custom light fixture and suspended above the dining table.Flooring: distressed wide-plank walnut

Unlike those in many modern homes, the kitchen is closed off with a large pocket door, rather than being incorporated into a great room. But the bleached fir ceilings and walnut floors continue throughout, smoothing the transition from one space to the next.

A meditation room occupies the northeast corner of the home in accordance with the rules of Sthapatya Veda. It’s outfitted sparingly with an altar, a bed and several pieces of art.

In addition to an oak grove on the property, there is also a large grove of redwood trees, which the master suite overlooks. On this side of the property, the land falls off, suspending the home about 7 feet above the ground and creating a slightly elevated viewing platform.

The bedroom in this guest house, in keeping with the rest of the property, remains minimally furnished yet abundant in warmth. Dappled light filters in through the windows, and sweeping views support a constant connection to nature — both as a principle of Sthapatya Veda and as an essential tool in the pursuit of tranquillity.